Why does the American form of government work?

The American governmental system is one that is hailed often, it a complicated and intricate system.  One of the main reasons that it works is demonstrated by James Madison in his Federalist Papers No. 10, in which he writes,"Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other."  In saying this, Madison is indicating that in order for a society to function, it must have a large diversity of people (religion, political beliefs, etc.).  When a society only has one type of person that is allowed to vote or make decisions in office they will make only decisions that benefit themselves rather than the public masses.  This, in turn, will lead to the downfall of a government and possibly the country (as it was very new at the time and a strong government was essential).  However, by embracing and including different beliefs of others, Madison argues that the governmental system will flourish.

Also in his Federalist Papers No. 10, James Madison writes "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires."  Through this phrase, Madison is explaining that without air a fire cannot breathe the same way in which a faction cannot thrive when deprived of liberty.  Liberty is one of the most important things that American colonists fought for during the Revolutionary War, thus making it something that should be vital in the American government.  Without freedoms a governmental system and country cannot work.

In his Federalist Papers No. 51, James Madison speaks about why a government is a necessity, saying "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."  Through this phrase James Madison is conveying the message that if men were all saints then no government would even be needed, however that is far from reality.  Speaking realistically, humans don't always make the right choices and are far from being perfect, because of this there needs to be a government that establishes and implements law and order, for without one such government a nation would fall into chaos and be unable to prosper.

Also in Federalist Papers No. 51, Madison writes "In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights." In saying this, Madison again argues (seen previously in his Federalist Papers No. 10) that in order to have a free government, religious toleration and acceptance must be practiced as fervently as the maintenance of civil rights.  Religion is a powerful thing that has driven nations apart and caused huge wars, without religious toleration in America and the government--an extremely new country prided upon acceptance and freedoms for all as "all men are created equal"--the nation would quickly become one of turmoil and disarray.